Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-07
HENRY WARD REECK4EIR DIVING.
Plym0uth's Celebrated Pastor Stricken
with ApOplexy.
No hoPk OF HIS REC0vERY-HIs FAMILY AT HIS BED.
slpE-A SKETCH OF HIS ANCESTRY AND HIS ACTIVE
LfE-PERSONAL HABITS AND CHARACTERISTICS.

sipE-A SKETCH OF HIS ANCESTRY AND HIS ACTIVE
LifE-PERsoNAL HABITS AND CHARACTERISTICS.
The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was stricken with
apoplexy early last Friday morning, but the fact
was not publicly known until Saturday afternoon.
IL Is appears that between and O'Clock Friday
morning MI. Beecher, who has been living recently
WIN hls son, Col Henry Beecher, at the corner OF
HICKS ana clark streets, Brooklyn, awakened his
VIE ana complained of feeling Ill. She arose to
ge1 hlm drink OF something. but before she could
10 50 ne commenced vomiting. 1t was not thought,
however, that the attack was at all serious, but
when called to breakfast Mr.. Beecher did not an
swer, and it was then found that he was speech
less Dr. Searle, the family physician was quickly
summoned and pronounced Mr.. Beecher quite i'll,
a'ar Ous IN IN NO immediate danger. He was worse how
IN consultation, and the members of his family In
sIne WesI ana elsewhere were summoned. Before
noon saturday Mr.. Beecher became unconscious,
a hnu naS since remained in that condition. All
hopo VI MS recovery was abandoned yesterday.
WILL PROBABLY NEVER REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS
Dr. Searle issued the following bulletin last
night: ''fhe condition Of Mr.. Beecher has not
materially changed during the day. He is 10 a
deeply comotose state, from which he cannot be
reused, reused and from which he will never probably
raiiy. ne lies like one in deep sleep, and gives
no M lndlcatlons of pain or uneasinesss. His pulse
varies from 80 to 100. At one time for several
m1urS II IN @inteImitted two or three beats in each
mlnute, out this evening it has remained quite reg
ular and quite hard and rull. The temperature has
ranged from 100 to 1OOh, and at present stands at
the minute. The body and extremities are equally
warn warm. The face is flushed and has somewhat
nsia nue. he Is unable to speak or swallow any
,lI, Inlng except small quantities OF liquid, which
must De cautiously administered to prevent chok-
Ing: During the day he has been under the con-
With OF nr ms Tho ana nr
w. A Hammond, OF New York city, have each
visited him once to-day. All three medical ad-
anu iocatlon OF the disease its present status the
remedial measures to be employed and as to the
prognosls OF the case 1t is their opinion that the
entertained from the beginning, that recovery is
,ood no. 70 9e noped for that though the euson Of
piood INTO the brain is now stopped, fresh
nelnoIrnage may at any time occur and speedily
END lie; that is not likely to happen, so far as
present indications are to be trusted, and should
oW @ yet
strength of constitution. Drs. Hammond and
Hell heiwertn VIII not return for consultation unless
deeming it unnecessary. No one except MRS
aa Beecher and her children is allowed to visit his
People began to gather In the netghborhood Of
Mr. Beecher's house before daylight yesterday
morning and all day the throngs almost made the
he On every hand expressions OF
were heard. Yesterday was communion day in
plymouth church, Brooklyn, and large gathering
OF the congregation attended the services. Rev.
MI. Halliday conducted the morning services
opening with prayer beseeching the Almighty to
strengthen the pastor, Mr. Beecher in his serious
Illness communion followed, during which mes
SageS cOncern1dg Mr.. BeecherS condition were
read, and caused tears to flow in abundance among
the congregation. Other prayers were offered
After the servfceJ were concluded special
meeting OF the church trustees was had and COM
mittee was appointed to take charge Of the church
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
telegraphed an inquiry last night as to Mr.
Beechers condition, and asked II there was any
hope OF recovery. Hundreds of kilograms have
been received by the family from all parts of the
country, but Will not be given to the pubic while
Mr.. Beecher lives
Mr. BEEcHRR's ANCESTRY.
The exuberant vitality and perfect health
which characterized Mr. Beecher were derived
from long line OF New England ancestors nearly
all OF whom were remarkable for physical prowess
colony OF any that mad arrived in New England
came to Boston, headed by John Davenport, a
prominent RIaa I London clergyman In this colony was
died just before sailing, with her son John. Under
spreading oak tree on her land John Davenport
April Is, T 1855 john Beechers son son" gassa 5osep
married POmeroy, and was noted for his won
derful strength, which he proved to admiring
from the bunghole. Nathaniel Beecher, the son
OF Joseph, was brawny siX-fOOter also able to
lift a barrel OF cider He was blacksmith and
David resembled him In being blacksmith and in
his ability to lift and carry barrels Of cider He was
considered one OF the best read men In New England.
He was fiVe times married. His third wife, Esther
Lyman, was Of Scotch descent, and was the mother
OF Lyman Beecher, Henry Ward Beecher's father,
Was WaS grast Mas na fco IL @ Lyman Beecaer
studied theology under President Dwight. and was
suGceSsiveiy pastor OF churches at East Hampton,
OF the Lane Theological seminary at Cincinnati,
remaining ten years, and then returned to Boston,
where he lived until 1856, when he removed to
BROOKLYN. Here his death occurred January 10,
1863. HIS fame as theOlOg1an, orator, writer and
leader In great moral movements, such as the tenn
perance and antt-slavery causes is well known.
thirteen children-amOng them Catherine, promi-
nent In female education; Edward Beecher writer,
teacher and pastor; and Harriet Beecher Stowe,
author.
MR.. BREcHER's REMARKABLE CAREER.
Henry Ward Beecher, the eighth child of Lyman
and R0xana FOote Beecher, was born In utch-
field, Conn, June "a, 1913. All Of Mr.. Beecher's
boyhood, as well as his later life was character
amounting almost to a passion for being out OF
doors. At the age OF twelve his father removed to
Boston and Henry entered the Boston Latin
went to Mt. Pleasant, in Amherst, to prepare for
college, and In 1880 he entered the freshman class
nt at Amhest In the last two yeas IN college he
the money obtained, preached and spoke regu-
larly In religious meetings, lectured on temper
beginning, took his position boldly as an abolition
fst. Having been graduated in 1884, he began the
study OF theology under his father at Lane semi
nary, Cincinnati. Here he was thrown into q life
full OF excitement, activity and controversy. In
1886 he appeared first publicly as the champion of
Philanthrorist, an anti-slavery paper in Cincin-
natl, edited by James G. Btrney, STAKEHOLDER who
had emancipated his slaves, became offensive to
the strong pro-Slavery element. A riot broke out
and for a week Cincinnati was overrun by a mob
headed by Kentucky Shareholders. Young Beecher
asked TO 0e sworn In as one OF the special police
men, and armed with a pistol patrolled the
streets. In 1887 Mr.. Beecher concluded his theO-
logical studies. He married Miss Eunice White
Bullard ano, taxing the first offer made him, set
tied over PreSby terrain church in Lawrenceburg,
not far from Cincinnati. larger field OF useful
ness was opened in 1889 by call to Indianapolis
then town OF about Z, 500 Inhabitants Here he
lived for eight years, and here his influence as q
speaker, writer and thinker began to make itself
strongly felt.
In June, 1S47, Mr. Beecher was called to the
paStOrate OF Plymouth church, Brooklyn, then
just erected, and remained its pastor ever since.
In numbers and influence. Mr.. Beecher continued
necessarily his war against slavery in the pulpit,
through the press, and from the lecture platform
He la0ored ardently for the election Of Lincoln,
ana when the war broke out his church raised
and equipped regiment, the First Long Island,
HIS varied laborS 1T length told ON his health, and
he went TO England for rest and regeneration. He
delivered series OF lectures there on the war In
the Unlteo states and at number OF places he
Soon after the close of the war Mr. Beecher made
vllt 70 the south and was present at the raising
OF the natlOnal nag on Fort sumter. In August,
1874 alCer some years OF ScandalOuS reports TheO-
d0re Triton brought his suit against Mr. Beecher
for improper relations with Mrs Ttlton. The trial
was opened In the city court Of BrOOklVn on jam.